As we approach the holy season of Advent, and as we look forward to the return of public worship in time for the Second Sunday of Advent, the Church Union and The Society, which is supported by Forward in Faith, are delighted to inform you of our written and video resources for Advent, 'O Radiant Dawn'. In the written booklet - available here - you will find a reflection for use each day during Advent and under a different weekly theme: Patriarchs, Prophets, St John the Baptist & Our Lady.

In the videos - which will be available on this page on four successive Saturdays at 5.30pm, starting on 28 November - Bishop Will Hazlewood will lead us in a reflection, a priest of The Society will speak on that week’s theme and the choir of St Stephen’s, Gloucester Road will provide seasonal music. We commend not only these resources to you but also the excellent Advent resources produced by our friends at the Anglican Shrine in Walsingham as we pray for our nation in these difficult times and as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Saviour.

We would like to thank Fr Philip Barnes for all his hard work in bringing this inspiring and high quality resource together.

Week 1

The Society, which is supported by Forward in Faith, and The Church Union join with the leaders of the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales in urging you to observe a month of Prayer for the Nation during this second national lockdown. As many of us as possible should unite at 6pm each day to say the Angelus and offer intercessions for the vulnerable and those charged with their care. We hope that this short prayer booklet helps you do that.  You can download the resources for this initiative here.

During this period when we are not able to gather for public worship, a reminder of the Praying at Home resource that was produced earlier in the year, which we hope will be useful in sustaining and deepening our prayer lives during this time.  You can download this resource here:

#PrayerForTheNation

Resources for Time of Pandemic

Available - here.

Resource for Day of Prayer, Fasting and Works of Charity - 14 May

Available - here.

Statement from the Bishops of The Society on the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Poor

Statement issued on 5 May 2020 - here.

Preparing for Holy Week

Pastoral message issued on 1 April 2020 - here.

Pastoral Statement from the Bishops of The Society in response to the Coronavirus

Statement issued on 19 March 2020 - here.

Prayer Continues

The Forward in Faith Chaplain, Fr Peter Hudson SSC, is continuing the cycle of prayer for the work of Forward in Faith and of The Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda at this testing time. Fr Peter can be contacted on email via chaplain@forwardinfaith.com

The Easter Vigil

The Bishop of Fulham: 8.30pm - here.

Easter Day

The Bishop of Chichester: 10.30pm - here.

The above list will be updates as other bishops finalize their plans.

The devotional videos were recorded in the Diocese of London in accordance with the restrictions which were in place at that time. Thanks go to the Vicar and the Churchwardens of St Benet Fink, Tottenham for the use of the church building

Photo Credit: George Reynolds